Cap feeding machine



Jauno 19, 1932. c1'. SMALL. 1,842,053

GAP FEEDING MACHINE Filed my 1'4, 193,0 2 Sheetssneet 1 3o 8 Inventor C.' T. Small By j Atty.

Jam0 19. 1932.

FigA.

c; T. SMALL 1,842,053

CAP FEEDING MACHINE Filed July, 14,.l 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor C. T. Small Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES CHESLEY T. SMALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI CAP runnnverV MACHINE- Application led July 14,

My invention relates to a cap feeding machine and particularly to improvements in machines of the type shown and described in Patent No. 1,446,591 granted to me February 27, 1923, in which caps fed upon a rotary disk or table and after passing under a separating partition are delivered by centrifugal action into a reversing chute extending from the periphery of the table.

While machines such as that shown in my patent above referred to operate satisfactorily on caps of small diameter, I have found that with caps of larger diameter there is at times a tendency for the caps to clog the machine, particularly when the caps become nested, that is, when a cap enters partially into a cap on which it is superimposed. Such nested caps are not removed by the separating partition and this accumulation linally interferes with the action of the machine. The object of my invention is to provide effective means for removing` the superimposed caps, thus preventing such clogging and thereby improving the uniformity and reliability' of its action. With this object in view my invention consists, rst, in providing a tappet device, preferably in the form of a plurality of suspended weights revolving in a plane parallel with the plane of the table. Next, in providing a separating brush operating adjacent to the separating partition. And last, in improvement in the construction and arrangement of the separating partition.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of cap feeding machine made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail view of the tappet device; Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 7; Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a side elevation on a reduced scale; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the action of the tappets. y

The device comprises a cylindrical housing or drum supported on uprights 6 and having its "bottom formed by a rotating disk or table 7 carried on a shaft 8 driven by any 1930. Serial No. 467,700.

suitable means (notA shown) so as to rotate in the` direction indicated by the arrow A in .Figure 1. In order to use a single size of base with V,different sizes of drums each of the uprights 6 may be formed of two parts connected by links 9. The caps are delivered into a reversing chute 10 operating in theA manner described in my prior patent above referred to.

Rigidly secured at one` end of the drum 5 is a separating partition 11 arranged at such a height from the table as to allow of the passage'of a single cap under it into position beneath a guard plate 12. The opposite end of the partition is secured to a threaded rod 13 passing through a hole in the drum and provided with nuts 14. A guard partition 15, which extendsl down nearly to the table so to prevent the passage of any caps under it, is permanently secured to the drum adjacent to the opening into the chute 10, and at the other end is provided with a threaded rod 16 passing through a hole in the drum and provided with nuts 17. By moving the nuts 14 and 17 on their rods the separating partition and the guard partition may be adjusted toward or away from the drum to accommodate caps of different diameter. The guard plate 12 is supported by studs 18 passing through eye bolts 19 and adjustable vertically with respect thereto by means of nuts 20 to accommodate caps of different height. The eye bolts pass through horizontal slots 21 in the drum and are secured by nuts 22. The slots allow the adjustment of the guard plate 12 longitudinally to properly position its `tail end 23 with respect to the discharge into the chute 10. An auxiliary separating partition 11 projects inwardly from the drum in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 and, like the main separating partition 11, is spaced from the table a suiicient distance to allow the passage of a single cap but to prevent the passage of two superimposed caps.

Secured to the periphery of the drum 5 is a bracket 24 forming a bearing for a shaft 25 on which is mounted a cylindrical brush 26 the axis of which extends approximately parallel with the adjacent portion of the separating partition 11. Mounted on the shaft is a pulley 27 driven by a belt 28 (preferably round) fr-om a pulley 29 on the shaft 8. The direction of the belt is changed by idlers 30 mounted on a bracket 31 carried on one of the uprights G. Brush 26 is driven in the direction indicated by arrow C (Fign ure 2) and is positioned at such height from the table that it will engage with any cap which is supported upon another cap and brush it ofi. Secured to the bracket 24 is an arm 32 provided with fingers 33 extending dowinvardly between the members of the brush to remove any caps which may become entangled in the brush and so tend to be carried over its top.

Mounted on the shaft 25 is a second pulley 34 connected by belt 35 with a pulley 36 on a shaft 37. This shaft is mounted at one end in a bracket 38 secured to the periphery of the drum and at the other in a sleeve 39 rigidly carried by a supporting arm 40 also secured to the periphery of the drum. Loosely mounted on a stud 4l carried on the under side of the sleeve 39 is a bevel gear Y wheel 42 driven by a bevel gear Wheel 43 on the shat 37 in the direction indicated by arrow B (Figure l). An equalizing gear 44 is preferably loosely mounted on the sleeve 39 to overcome the tendency of the pressure of gear 43 to tilt gear 42 on stud 41. Gear 42 is provided with an elongated hub 45 on which is slidingly mounted a block 46 which may be rigidly secured to the hub at different heights by means of set-screw 47 (Figure 3) for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Carried by the block 46 are a pair of laterally projecting arms 48 from which are suspended, by means of chains 49, a plurality of tappets 50 for striking against and dislodging superimposed caps. These tappets are in the form of metallic weights covered with rubber or other softmaterial to prevent injury to the caps. The lower edges of the weights are preferably slightly flared to produce sharp corners which will readily enter between a supporting and superimposed cap.

In the operation of my machine the caps are fed upon the revolving table 7 by hand or through a feed chute at about the point indicated by the broken circle 52 (Figure l). The rotary motion of the disk first carries the caps unde the revolving arms 48 where the impact of the tappets 5() against superimposed caps will remove the greater number of such superimposed caps. The tappets 5() must be varied in height not only to accommodate caps 5l of different thickness, but also to compensate for different angles assumed by the chains 49 under the influence of centrifugal force if the speed of the machine is changed. This may be accomplished by adjusting the block 4G up or down on the hub 45. It will be understood that the caps, as they travel around with the table, will move toward its periphery due to the innea-2,053

fluence of centrifugal force. Those nearest the periphery will pass under the auxiliary separating partition l1 except such superimposed caps as have escaped the action of the tappets. These latter caps will be guided inwardly by the partition ll and presented to the action of the brush 26 by the operation of which the upper caps will be removed from the lower caps. Any caps which have not been subjected to the action of the tappets or the brush are deflected by the guard partition 15.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said discharge, and a tappet operating above the table at a distance not less than the thickness of a single cap to Contact with superimposed caps before their passage to said separating means.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said discharge, and a plurality of tappets rotating in a plane parallel with the face of the table and operating on the caps before their passage to said separating means.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said' discharge, and a plurality of flexibly suspended tappets rotating in a plane parallel to the face of the table and operating on the caps before their passage to said separating means.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said discharge, a plurality of flexibly suspended tappets rotating in a plane parallel to the face of the table and operating on the caps before their passage to said separating means, and means for adjusting the operating height of said tappets relative to the face of the table.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said discharge, a wheel rotating above and parallel with the face of the table, said wheel having a downwardly projecting hub, a member adjustably mounted on said hub, and tappets flexibly suspended from said member.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary horizontal cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said discharge, and a rotary brush having its axis parallel with the face of the table and spaced therefrom a distance not less than the thickness 0f a single cap, said brush operating on superimposed caps before their passage to said separating means.

7. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a rotating cap table having a peripheral discharge, of a separating partition operating on the caps prior to their entry into the discharge, a rotary brush adjacent to said main separating partition, and

an auxiliary separating partition delivering superimposed caps to said brush.

8. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a rotating cap table having a peripheral discharge, of a separating partition operating on the caps prior to their entry into the discharge, a rotary brush adjacent to said separating partition, an auxiliary separating partition delivering superimposed caps to said brush, and a horizontal guard plate adjacent to said separating partition,

said guard plate being vertically and longitudinally adjustable.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination With a rotating cap table having a peripheral discharge, of a separating partition operating on the caps prior to their entry into the discharge, a rotary brush adj acent to said separating partition, and a guard partition .extending from said brush to a point beyond the cap discharge.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said discharge, a tappet operating to remove superimposed caps, and a rotary brush also operating to remove superimposed caps.

ll. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotary cap table having a peripheral discharge, of separating means for preventing the passage of superimposed caps to said discharge, a plurality of flexibly suspended tappets rotating in a plane paralf lel With the face of the table, and a rotary brush having its axis parallel With the face of the table, both said tappets and brush 0perating to remove superimposed caps.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature, this 9th day of July, 1930.

CHESLEY T. SMALL. 

